Washington,
March 17 – Focused on new rules for nutrient management, runoff, and CAFOs, the
EPA is giving the public two weeks to comment on “how the nation can better
manage some of the most significant water pollution problems facing our nation.”
This public input will be considered in the EPA’s April 15 “Clean Water”
conference which will bring 100 water experts to Washington to start work on new rules for
cleaning up the nation’s water.

EPA Office of Water Assistant
Administrator Peter Silva says EPA has set up a web discussion forum “for
anyone who wants to share their best solutions for restoring healthy waters and
creating sustainable communities across the country.” EPA hopes to gather ideas
on planning, scientific tools, low impact development, green infrastructure and
other approaches for “controlling water pollution and how resources can be
better focused to improve these efforts.” Whether you’re a water professional
or a working farmer, rancher or forest owner, join EPA’s on-line discussion by
going to: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/.

Silva explains that the April
15 conference will focus on “two of the most significant pollution
problems facing our waters . . . nonpoint-source
pollution and wet weather runoff.” EPA plans to expand its new “watershed
approach” to replace EPA’s traditional focus on improving the quality of
“impaired waters” such as specific rivers or lakes. EPA’s new aim is “to weave
a range of voluntary programs, regulations, and strategies into an effective
method of protecting whole geographically based drainage areas.” EPA asks the
public to provide “examples of effective practices and strategies [that] can be
‘scaled up’ to State and national levels for greater effectiveness and broader
use.”

Under the topic “Managing Pollutants from Nutrients,” EPA states that:
“Excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous entering the nation’s waters
create pollution that is hard to track, contain, and control. Nutrient
pollution is as damaging to our waters as it is complex, so finding effective
ways to address it is critical. EPA and State agencies have used various
approaches to tackle the problem but much more is needed to protect water
bodies from these pollutants.” EPA asks for public input on questions which
relate directly to agricultural operations:

“What critical elements need to be included in an
effective nutrient strategy?

“How should the strategies differ for protecting
healthy and functioning watersheds versus those that need to be significantly
restored due to previous pollution?

“What has worked for your organization, state,
or tribe in controlling nutrient pollution? What hasn’t?”

EPA
specifically notes that “Agricultural and silvicultural (forestry) runoff”
along with stormwater discharges and habitat modifications “are among the
leading sources of water quality impairments in the United States.” EPA warns that
these sources threaten “currently unimpaired waters” and that “Very few of the
43,000-plus impaired waterbodies in the United States will achieve water
quality standards without effective controls on these pollution sources.”

EPA plans
to use its regulatory authorities “in innovative ways to tackle non-industrial
sources of pollution.” As one example, “EPA is considering revisions to its
CAFO [Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations] regulations to bring more point
sources into the NPDES [National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System] program.”

EPA is also looking at developing enforceable TMDL (total maximum daily load)
standards to achieve “reductions in nutrient loadings.” EPA reports that “ The
amount of nutrients entering the nation’s waters has dramatically escalated
over the past 50 years, and nutrients now pose significant water quality and
public health concerns across the United States.” In response, EPA “is
actively pursuing the development of a comprehensive, national nutrient
strategy.” The problem, EPA states, is “the lack of a common framework of
responsibility and accountability for all point and nonpoint sources within and
across watersheds.”

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rod Hebrink, President and CEO of Compeer Financial. The lack of certainty from a new farm bill and weak commodity prices due to lost export markets and robust supplies have left farmers and lenders with a grim outlook for 2019. In this interview, Hebrink discusses the challenge of the unknown and the need for legislators and the White House to take action on farm policy, trade and regulations to help rural America prepare for the year ahead.

The world of agriculture extends beyond what’s growing in your field or living in your barn, and here at Agri-Pulse, we understand that. We make it our duty to inform you of the most up-to-date agricultural and rural policy decisions being made in Washington D.C. and examine how they will affect you – the farmer, the lobbyist, the government employee, the educator, the consultant and the concerned citizen.